The generic drug quandary in the Mauritian context: To use or not to use?

Background: The procurement of medicines places a heavy burden on the healthcare budget. The emergence of generic medicines as a low-cost alternative to the more expensive branded drugs has been of considerable help to developing countries such as Mauritius. However, the negative perception of the quality and efficacy of generic medicines has always been a controversial topic.

Objective: This study focused on understanding patients’ perceptions towards the generic drugs available in the public healthcare sector.

Methods: A questionnaire assessing various aspects such as knowledge about generics, beliefs about safety and efficacy of generic drugs, and lack of communication and education about generic medicines was administered to 395 respondents.

Results: A vast majority of the participants (74%) were unaware that the drugs available in public hospitals are generics. Although the respondents believed (76%) that generics were cheaper than branded drugs, they were unaware of the similarity in the composition of generics and branded drugs (55%). Statistically significant relationships were found between demographic factors such as gender, education, and knowledge of generic drugs. Respondents also noted a difference between medicines purchased from private pharmacies and those purchased from public pharmacies. The need to sensitize patient awareness of generic drugs was also identified.

Conclusion: This study was successful in analyzing the factors influencing the knowledge about generic drugs, analyzing the beliefs about safety and efficacy, the perception towards generic medicines in the public and private sectors. Strategies need to be developed to inform healthcare professionals and patients about generic drugs and their potential benefits. However, strict guidelines should be introduced to control the quality, efficacy, and safety of generic drugs before use to increase patient confidence.